FREIGHTER DISABLED

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1936, Page 7

FREIGHTER DISABLED

ADRIFT NEAR REEF

"POSITION GRAVE"

[by CABLE —PRESS aSSN. —COPYRIGHT.

(Received June 22, 1 p.m.)

ADELAIDE. June 22

With the engine thrust carried away and the propeller shaft bent, the interstate freighter Mungana, with, a crew of forty-seven, is disabled off Margaret Brock reef, near Cape Jaffa, about two hundred miles from Port Adelaide.

A message received al Adelaide at 12.2-1 ihis morning, from the captain of tile Mungana read: “Three miles off Margaret Brock Reef. drifting not th north east. Position grave.”

The liner Nestor answered a call for help, and at an early hour in the i morning was endeavouring to get a . line aboard the Mungana, but owing to heavy seas, had not been successful. The Orunga is also going to the Munga na ’ s assistance. Latest advice received at 2.5 this morning stated that the Mungana. was drifting north north east, at two miles an hour. Both anchors and cables had gone. The ship is about, two miles off the rocks. IN TOW. (Received June 22, 3 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jun-3 22. Advice was received hero that the Nestor managed to get a line aboard the Mungana, and is now towing her to Adelaide. “GIRL PAT'S” CAPTURE CREW DENY THEFT. LONDON, June 20. The “Daily Mail’s” special correspondent at Georgetown, who watched the ‘‘Girl Pat’s” capture from a motor boat cables that the Girl Pat was anchored four miles from the shore, awaiting the lide. Meantime, after a conference throughout the night with the port authorities, Sir Geoffrey Northcot, the Governor, ordered a chase and the arrest of the vessel. Thirty armed native police, three British ex-servicemen, and three local military police officers, guarded the police steamer Pomeroon, which steamed out- at dawn. The “Girl Pat,” with damaged sails and a generally battered appearance, set sail, started her auxiliary engine, and steered for the open sea. She cleverly manoeuvred until the wind dropped as the sun rose, enabling the Pomeroon to run alongside, sinking the “Girl Pat’s” dinghy, which -was trailing astern, and smashing the trawler’s bulwarks.

The crew declare they did not steal the Girl Pat. They did not want to return to England. The “Girl Pat’s” crew decline to see the Press. At present they are not detained. The police authorities have cabled to England for instructions. They decline to state whether they are prosecuting.

GRIMSBY HERO-WORSHIP

(Rec. June 22, 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 21.

Whatever the legal position, resi-

dents of Grimsby regard the Girl Pat’s crew as heroes, and are preparing a welcome for Skipper Orsborne, who is

bailed as a fearless skilled navigator, who conquered the Atlantic with a sixpenny atlas. Mrs. Orsborne was overjoyed to receive a message: “O.K. See you all soon. Love Dad.” She said: This is the

happiest day of my life. No matter why my husband went away, he is forgiven. All I care about is he is alive and well. A movement has been started to raise a fund for the crew and families. Sir Walter Womersley, member of the Commons for Grimsby, is making contact with the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, with~a view to their early return. “The News of the World” understands that neither the police, Lloyds, nor the Board of Trade, contemplates action against the crew.

JOSEPH CONRAD

MELBOURNE, June 21

No further news has been received in regard to the Joseph Conrad’s arrival at Papeete. Villiers’ mother and brother, who reside at Kensington suburb, were overjoyed at the good news of the Conrad’s safety.

WHEAT BARQUE

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, June 20

The Herzogin Cecilie was towed to Salcombe after having been lightened of her cargo of grain, hundreds of tons of which were thrown overboard. Subscriptions towards the cost of refloating her, have been sent from all parts of Britain. It is not yet known to what extent the ship is damaged, but it is suggested that the comparative ease with which she was released, shows she is not holed as seriously as at first thought.